Irbil Express Reservations on Iraqi Court Decision to Annul Referendum

Iraqi Kurdish protesters deploy a giant flag of their autonomous Kurdistan region during a pro-independence rally in Irbil. (AFP)
Iraqi Kurdish protesters deploy a giant flag of their autonomous Kurdistan region during a pro-independence rally in Irbil. (AFP)
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Irbil Express Reservations on Iraqi Court Decision to Annul Referendum

Iraqi Kurdish protesters deploy a giant flag of their autonomous Kurdistan region during a pro-independence rally in Irbil. (AFP)
Iraqi Kurdish protesters deploy a giant flag of their autonomous Kurdistan region during a pro-independence rally in Irbil. (AFP)

The Iraqi Kurdistan Region expressed on Monday its reservations on an Iraqi Federal Court rule, stipulating that the September 25 Kurdish independence referendum is "unconstitutional.”

Outgoing Kurdish President Masoud Barzani criticized the ruling, saying the court did not issue a ruling that showed its neutrality.

In a statement issued by his office on Monday evening, he said: “The decision by the Federal Court is unilateral, political, and has exploited constitutional texts in the interest of some political parties.”

He added that the court disregarded violations committed by the Iraqi government against 55 articles of the constitution, including failing to implement Article 140 to resolve the disputed areas and cutting the Kurdistan Region budget.

For his part, Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani told reporters on Monday that the Federal Court’s ruling was made “unilaterally and without the presence of Kurdish representatives.”

Earlier, the Iraqi Supreme Federal Court issued a verdict ruling that "the September 25 referendum, in the Kurdistan region and the disputed areas outside the region, was unconstitutional," Ayas al-Samouk, head of the court's media office, said in a brief statement.

The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi welcomed the ruling and called on all parties to respect the constitution.

"We call on everyone to respect the constitution and to act under its roof in resolving all controversial issues and avoid taking any step contrary to the constitution and the law," a statement by Abadi's office said following the court’s decision.

In return, several observers said that the Federal Court’s ruling could offer an exit for both parties to start dialogue.

A deputy from the ruling Kurdistan Democratic party, Fares al-Briykakani said that the court decision “opens the door for real dialogue between Baghdad and Irbil,” adding that the ruling was binding.



Netanyahu Aide Faces Indictment over Gaza Leak

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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Netanyahu Aide Faces Indictment over Gaza Leak

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks to reporters before a meeting with lawmakers at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces indictment on security charges pending a hearing, Israel's attorney general has said, for allegedly leaking top secret military information during Israel's war in Gaza.

Netanyahu's close adviser, Jonatan Urich, has denied any wrongdoing in the case, which legal authorities began investigating in late 2024.

Netanyahu has described probes against Urich and other aides as politically motivated and on Monday said that Urich had not harmed state security. Urich's attorneys said the charges were baseless and that their client's innocence would be proven beyond doubt, reported Reuters.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said in a statement late on Sunday that Urich and another aide had extracted secret information from the Israeli military and leaked it to German newspaper Bild.

Their intent, she said, was to shape public opinion of Netanyahu and influence the discourse about the slaying of six Israeli hostages by their Palestinian captors in Gaza in late August 2024.

The hostages' deaths sparked mass protests in Israel and outraged hostages' families, who accused Netanyahu of torpedoing ceasefire talks that had faltered in the preceding weeks for political reasons.

Netanyahu vehemently denies this. He has repeatedly said that Hamas was to blame for the talks collapsing, while the group has said it was Israel's fault no deal had been reached.

Four of the six slain hostages had been on the list of more than 30 captives that Hamas was set to free if a ceasefire had been reached, according to a defense official at the time.

The Bild article in question was published days after the hostages were found executed in a Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza. It outlined Hamas' negotiation strategy in the indirect ceasefire talks and largely corresponded with Netanyahu's allegations against the militant group over the deadlock.

Bild said after the investigation was announced that it does not comment on its sources and that its article relied on authentic documents. The newspaper did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

A two-month ceasefire was reached in January this year and included the release of 38 hostages before Israel resumed attacks in Gaza. The sides are presently engaged in indirect negotiations in Doha, aimed at reaching another truce.

In his statement on Monday, Netanyahu said Baharav-Miara's announcement was "appalling" and that its timing raised serious questions.

Netanyahu's government has for months been seeking the dismissal of Baharav-Miara. The attorney general, appointed by the previous government, has sparred with Netanyahu's cabinet over the legality of some of its policies.